. >> after the treaty was voted down, john kerry said, i quote, this is one of the saddest days i've seen in almost 28 years in the senate. it needs to be a wake-up call about a broken institution that's letting down the american people. we need to fix this place. today he addressed mr. santorum's claims. >> i have great respect for both rick and his wife, karen, their daughter and his family. he's a strong family man. but he either simply hasn't read the treaty or doesn't understand it. or he was just not factual in what he said, because the united states has absolutely zero, zero, i mean zero ability, to order or to tell or to -- i mean, they can suggest. but they have no legal capacity to tell the united states to do anything under this treaty. nothing. >> tonight, many disability rights advocates are saying politics trump the welfare of the disabled everywhere. seven-term democratic congressman of rhode island is among the many supporters of the u.n. treaty, the first quadriplegic person to serve in the u.s. house. before yesterday's vote he talked with former senator bob dole in